Two people were killed in a mid-air collision between two small aircraft at Marana Regional Airport in Arizona on Wednesday morning. The affected planes included a Cessna 172, operated by Aeroguard, a commercial aviation training school, and a Lancair 360 MK II. The collision occurred at approximately 8:28 AM. Following the incident, the Lancair crashed and ignited, while the Cessna landed safely, with its two pilots unharmed.
The airport, which lacks an air traffic control tower, has been closed as investigations are underway by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Marana officials and Aeroguard expressed condolences for the deceased individuals, who were the only occupants of their respective aircraft.
This incident forms part of a troubling trend in aviation accidents in recent months, including a deadly helicopter-jet collision in January that claimed 67 lives. Although the overall number of plane accidents remains low, small aircraft tend to have a higher rate of incidents compared to commercial planes, which operate under stricter regulations. The NTSB and FAA are conducting further investigations into this collision.
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